Fear in the Bay Area over recent break-ins by dozens of people at department stores
The Nordstrom department store in Walnut Creek was ransacked Saturday night.
Photo: Bruce Bennett / Getty Images
Fear and concern sparked among Bay Area residents recent department store robberies by dozens of people .
Saturday night, between 80 and 100 people broke into the Nordstrom store , in Walnut Creek, minutes before to close and after taking merchandise they left the mall, under the gaze of dozens of customers.
The police reported that two store employees were attacked, one of them with pepper spray.
“I panicked, I’m not going to lie, I didn’t know what was going on, they told us to go to the other side of the store,” said Amanda Arvin, who was at Nordstrom at the time of the massive robbery.
The authorities had to update their security measures after this type of robbery, classified as flash mobs.
“We received reports about people wearing masks and dark clothes who they were running into Nordstrom and blocking the streets with their own cars, “said Walnut Creek Police Lt. Holley Conners.
# Breaking About 25 cars just blocked the street and rushed into the Walnut Creek Nordstrom making off with goods before getting in cars snd speeding away. At least two people arrested at gunpoint. pic.twitter.com/AG3R80 M9L3
The authorities indicated that in those vehicles, some with covered license plates, escaped the suspects quickly, but three people were arrested .
The Mayor of Walnut Creek, Kevin Wilk, assured that security measures were increased, with more police elements, in Broadway Plaza shopping center, where the Nordstrom store is located, on Mt. Diablo Boulevard.
Wilk argued that this type of robbery is due to a coordinated activity, with an organized group of people who work together and who can use social networks to communicate with each other.
The authorities are investigating if the robbery in Walnut Creek is related with the one that happened on Friday in Union Square, in San Francisco, where luxury stores like Louis Vuitton were looted by dozens of people .
Other similar incidents occurred in Santana Row, in San José; and at Stoneridge Mall in Pleasanton .
Customers did not hide their concern about the crime that has recently been unleashed.
“This is a beautiful community that you shouldn’t have fear walking down the street where a gang of people run past and steal material things, “said Oakland resident Mack Jacob.
As a precaution, the Nordstrom store advanced its closing time on Sunday, scheduled for 9 pm A sign on the door indicated that it was as a precautionary measure.
